RoyalWulff
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I recently acquired a Savage 110 in 270 and am in the process of working up a hunting load for it, looking for input on bullets and powders others have had good luck with !
270 loads ?
- Thread starter RoyalWulff
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I tested IMR 4064, IMR 4350, H4350, 2700, Varget and IMR 4831. My recommendation for powder: IMR4831, just walk away from the rest. There may be an even slower burning powder out there than IMR 4831/H4831 and from what I have observed, this cartridge likes slow burning powders, and the slower the better. At least IMR 4831 is the slowest of the powders I tried.
As a general rule, in the three 270 Win's I have, 150 grain bullets were more accurate than the 130's. But the tubes on the first two rifles were not as good as the tube on the last, and I need to shoot more 130's to really have confidence in this statement.
One thing I am very disappointed was in the velocities I saw over the screens. My goal was to get to the magic 3000 fps mark with a 130. This fabled speed, a speed I frequently see in inprint articles, a 130 grain bullet going 3000 fps is supposed to be the end all of all end all's. I was disappointed with the velocities I got with my 130's and 55.0 grs H4350. I wanted 3000 fps and I did not get it. The only ammunition I had that gave me 3000 fps was Federal factory and it was not that accurate. Factory 130 grain Winchester was below 2800 fps. Kinda slow based on all the advertising. Any load I created which got close to 3000 fps with a 130 grain bullet blew primers.
FN Deluxe 24" Barrel
100 gr PSP Remington Factory
29 Dec 2011 T = 50 °F
Ave Vel = 3024
Std Dev = 11
ES = 27
High = 3035
Low = 3008
N = 5
130 gr Winchester Power Point SP Factory
29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F
Ave Vel = 2789
Std Dev = 17
ES = 42
High = 2809
Low = 2767
N = 5
130 gr Federal Hi Shok Factory
29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F
Ave Vel = 3028
Std Dev = 38
ES = 103
High = 3088
Low = 2985
N = 5
Based on my testing, a 130 grain bullet going 2950 fps is as fast as I can go, and even then, the occasional primer will leak/blow. Loads that were just at 2900 or less, had less issues.
In all my rifles the 150 grain bullets were more accurate, but the velocities were disappointing. I can push a 150 faster in a 308 Win than in a 270 Win. I doubt an animal can tell the difference and maybe the 270 bullet has more velocity and a flatter trajectory somewhere way, way out there. I doubt it makes much of a difference at 300 yards.
150 gr Speer Flat Base 53.0 grains H4350 wtd lot 22655 R-P cases WLR OAL 3.250"
29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F
Ave Vel = 2704
Std Dev = 18
ES = 49
High = 2727
Low = 2678
N = 5
I had this rifle barreled with a custom tube, and it shot well, but loads that were fine in the FN and in a previous test session, blew primers.
This tube preferred 150's, and it liked IMR 4831.
Basically, I would start and end with IMR 4831, 150's and the heck with the rest.
As a general rule, in the three 270 Win's I have, 150 grain bullets were more accurate than the 130's. But the tubes on the first two rifles were not as good as the tube on the last, and I need to shoot more 130's to really have confidence in this statement.
One thing I am very disappointed was in the velocities I saw over the screens. My goal was to get to the magic 3000 fps mark with a 130. This fabled speed, a speed I frequently see in inprint articles, a 130 grain bullet going 3000 fps is supposed to be the end all of all end all's. I was disappointed with the velocities I got with my 130's and 55.0 grs H4350. I wanted 3000 fps and I did not get it. The only ammunition I had that gave me 3000 fps was Federal factory and it was not that accurate. Factory 130 grain Winchester was below 2800 fps. Kinda slow based on all the advertising. Any load I created which got close to 3000 fps with a 130 grain bullet blew primers.
FN Deluxe 24" Barrel
100 gr PSP Remington Factory
29 Dec 2011 T = 50 °F
Ave Vel = 3024
Std Dev = 11
ES = 27
High = 3035
Low = 3008
N = 5
130 gr Winchester Power Point SP Factory
29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F
Ave Vel = 2789
Std Dev = 17
ES = 42
High = 2809
Low = 2767
N = 5
130 gr Federal Hi Shok Factory
29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F
Ave Vel = 3028
Std Dev = 38
ES = 103
High = 3088
Low = 2985
N = 5
Based on my testing, a 130 grain bullet going 2950 fps is as fast as I can go, and even then, the occasional primer will leak/blow. Loads that were just at 2900 or less, had less issues.
In all my rifles the 150 grain bullets were more accurate, but the velocities were disappointing. I can push a 150 faster in a 308 Win than in a 270 Win. I doubt an animal can tell the difference and maybe the 270 bullet has more velocity and a flatter trajectory somewhere way, way out there. I doubt it makes much of a difference at 300 yards.
150 gr Speer Flat Base 53.0 grains H4350 wtd lot 22655 R-P cases WLR OAL 3.250"
29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F
Ave Vel = 2704
Std Dev = 18
ES = 49
High = 2727
Low = 2678
N = 5
I had this rifle barreled with a custom tube, and it shot well, but loads that were fine in the FN and in a previous test session, blew primers.
This tube preferred 150's, and it liked IMR 4831.
Basically, I would start and end with IMR 4831, 150's and the heck with the rest.
Random 8
Member
@Slamfire I've owned 2 European .270s... a Belgian BAR and a Sako. I believe they cut the throats a little differently over there, as I got similar results to Slamfire with lower than expected velocities and pressure indicators below max loads. In the BAR, any bullet heavier than 130 would have required deep seating to not engage the rifling lands in the BAR.
Both showed excellent accuracy with the 130 SSt and 140 HSPBT and IMR4831 using Hornady data. In all fairness, these were the only loads I tested as I got outstanding accuracy in the range of 1MOA with the first load I worked up. I believe I stayed 1.5 grains or so below max due to pressure indications loading at the maximum. Was never really in love with either so I sold them when money got tight several years ago.
Both showed excellent accuracy with the 130 SSt and 140 HSPBT and IMR4831 using Hornady data. In all fairness, these were the only loads I tested as I got outstanding accuracy in the range of 1MOA with the first load I worked up. I believe I stayed 1.5 grains or so below max due to pressure indications loading at the maximum. Was never really in love with either so I sold them when money got tight several years ago.
RoyalWulff
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Thanks for the info ! Beautiful rifles and excellent documentation, I do have some Hornady 150s I'll give them a try !
RoyalWulff
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That's where I am I had a rem 700 in 270 and the first load I tried with Hornady 130s shot so well I didn't do any further testing, I tried that load in the new rifle and its acceptable but I think there is room for improvement !
My .270 load for my 26" barreled Encore rifle is the Hornady 140 gr psp over 57.5 grains of IMR4831 for 2990FPS.
Groups are at 1-3/4" @200 yards
Groups are at 1-3/4" @200 yards
Captcurt
Member
It has been a while since I had my Ruger 77 but it was one of the only rifles that I have owned that would print 150 gr bullets to the same POI as 130 gr. It wasn't picky about loads either. My favorite was 54 gr of IMR-4350 pushing a 130 gr Speer HotCor. IMR-4831 shot well as did 130 Nosler Solid Base.. I would have to check my old manuals, but I think I ran some IMR-4895, R-22 and R-19 though it. Few loads were hot. I always figured that if you want magnum performance you need to shoot a magnum. Even at lumbering loads it accounted for 22 Whitetails, 2 Mulies, 2 Pronghorn and a Bobcat. A Mulie and a Whitetail were pushing 400 yards.
RoyalWulff
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Wow that's impressive accuracy at 200, sounds like I need to get some 4831 ! Seems like it's the favorite 270 powder
RoyalWulff
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That's really good velocity with 140s I'm guessing the 26 inch barrel helps
RoyalWulff
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Thanks for the input, I agree on the magnum thing I am not a big recoil fan ! That's the load I am currently using 54 gr IMR 4350 with a 130 Hornady SP, I also have the 130 hot cor ! Might have to load a few and try them I also have some rl19
As stated in one of the earlier posts, the 270 likes slow burning powder. IMR and H4831 are pretty slow burning, but the old MRP and some of the newer powders are even slower. I haven't tried them cause my load has everything i could ask for. It's accurate (from the bench), and it hasn't failed me on game yet. It's been awhile since I have used this gun for hunting, as now I hunt almost exclusively with traditional muzzle loaders.
I'll not say that everyone else is full of it, but for .270, from 130-150 and everything in between, the two powders I stay stocked with are h1000 and imr4451
J-Bar
Member
If you are hunting for very large and/or dangerous game, the heavy bullets and high velocity are certainly justifiable.
But at the other end of the scale, I killed two Missouri whitetails last year with a reduced .270 load in my Ruger #1. My load was 29.5 grains of H4895 under a Hornady 110 grain V Max bullet. Yes it is a varmint bullet but both deer fell in their tracks. Most Missouri whitetails are not huge. I do not have a chronograph, but velocity was probably in the 2600 FPS ball park. It was a very pleasant low recoil load, which my aging shoulder appreciated. I settled on 29.5 grains because it gave me a three-shot group at 100 yards that measured a hair over 0.5”. I chose H4895 because Hodgdon has stated that this powder can be loaded at 60% of the maximum load for a given bullet. So, not to disagree with any recommendations above, just pointing out that H4895 is quite versatile if you want a less than maximum load.
Link to Hodgdon formula for reduced H4895 loading:
https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf
Test target:
But at the other end of the scale, I killed two Missouri whitetails last year with a reduced .270 load in my Ruger #1. My load was 29.5 grains of H4895 under a Hornady 110 grain V Max bullet. Yes it is a varmint bullet but both deer fell in their tracks. Most Missouri whitetails are not huge. I do not have a chronograph, but velocity was probably in the 2600 FPS ball park. It was a very pleasant low recoil load, which my aging shoulder appreciated. I settled on 29.5 grains because it gave me a three-shot group at 100 yards that measured a hair over 0.5”. I chose H4895 because Hodgdon has stated that this powder can be loaded at 60% of the maximum load for a given bullet. So, not to disagree with any recommendations above, just pointing out that H4895 is quite versatile if you want a less than maximum load.
Link to Hodgdon formula for reduced H4895 loading:
https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads.pdf
Test target:
Last edited:
RoyalWulff
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Good to know I haven't used any of the new series IMR powders but have heard they are great especially in weather extremes !
RoyalWulff
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That's an impressive group ! I have some H4895 but did not know it could be loaded down like that, this gun will have very similar usage to yours hunting whitetails and maybe an occasional pig hunt !
Stew0576
Addicted
Think the pic said it all
Whatever great and wondrous things the "Extreme" powders do are invisible to me. I have blown primers with H4895 (an extreme powder)
just like the non extreme powders. Only difference I can tell is that the extreme powders are green. My chronographs don't work in sub 40 F degree weather, so if there is some magic going on at -40 F, I won't see it because I will be inside. I have shot and chronographed in 100 degree weather, and loads that worked fine at 72 F, blew primers at 100 F. So, based on my observations, heat increases combustion pressures. Regards of the powder in the case.
I have been told by ammunition technicians that the extreme powders have even pressure curves with respect to charge, but without pressure gauges, there is nothing special going on that I can observe. Except when I blow a primer and then I wonder about what these people claim. And this has been a problem for me in terms of jumping on the extreme powder band wagon. If I can't tell something is going on, then, is it? Might as well be swallowing sugar pills for a cancer cure. By the way, the placebo effect is real. Even when patients are told they are taking a placebo, they react positively, which shows, just how suggestible people are. If an authority figure tells you green powders are miraculous and wondrous, you will see things that confirm that. Whether or not what you saw was due to those miraculous and wondrous green powders.
mustanger98
Member
And with that, I can hear somebody going around channeling the lady on the Andy Griffith Show... "I got to have my green powders." 
DocRock
member
After extensive testing of a range of powders, with 130 grs, it's IMR4831 all day, every day. 56 grs under 130 grs Nosler Accubond from a 24" T/C Venture does 2920 fps and is extremely accurate. That is my antelope and mule deer load. 58 grs will top 3k but I started to get stringing. The same load with Hornady Interlocks is slightly slower but equally accurate and has wiped out coyote at 300 yards for me in several occaisions, as far as I would ever shoot. 56 grs to 57 grs is almost certainly your sweet spot.
RoyalWulff
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It does indeed ! Good shooting
RoyalWulff
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Good to know, I think I'll stay off that bandwagon for now as I mostly own standard IMR powders ! My only experience with any of the green powders is a rem 700 in 30-06 that shot extremely well with 180 partitions and H4350
RoyalWulff
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Thanks for the input, I don't have many long shots either so I'd give accuracy the nod over velocity as well, seems that 4831 is by far the most popular and for good reason !
Lee Q. Loader
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From all I've experienced and read, the .270 is a round that isn't difficult to find a very accurate load. I've never used IMR 4831 or H4831, but I've no doubt they produce great results in .270.
I use IMR 4350 with the same results many are getting with 4831. I think it would be hard to go wrong with any powder in the same burn speed range as these two. I have also used RL16 with the same great accuracy.
I use IMR 4350 with the same results many are getting with 4831. I think it would be hard to go wrong with any powder in the same burn speed range as these two. I have also used RL16 with the same great accuracy.
RoyalWulff
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Thanks for the info, do you have a load with 130s and imr4350 ?
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